| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| affidavit |
a written statement that is sworn in the presence of an authorized official to be true, used as legal evidence. |
| antebellum |
in or of the period prior to a war, especially the American Civil War. |
| apprehensive |
feeling fearful about future events. |
| consummate |
of the highest order or degree. |
| eidetic |
pertaining to or designating the ability to recall images in almost perfect detail. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| fealty |
faithfulness or loyalty. |
| gamut |
the whole extent or range of anything. |
| ingenuous |
having or showing simplicity and lack of sophistication; artless. |
| laconic |
using very few words; succinct; terse. |
| linguistics |
(used with a singular verb) the scientific and historical study of the form and structure of human language. |
| oppugn |
to oppose, contradict, criticize, or call into question. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| travesty |
something so grotesque or inferior as to seem a parody. |